“Assembly Bill 313 is a common-sense good government bill that will create accountability and transparency for how research dollars under the Road Repair and Accountability Act are spent,” Frazier said.

SACRAMENTO – The Assembly Public Safety Committee unanimously approved a bill by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) to clear a years-long backlog of rape kits that have not been tested.

Sponsored by Soroptimist International of Vacaville, which last year launched a successful campaign to clear a backlog of untested kits in their community, AB 1496 would mandate that all rape kits in law enforcement possession be sent to labs for testing within six months and for labs to process the kits quickly. It would also require rapid turnaround of all future rape kit evidence that is collected statewide.

“Collection of sexual assault forensic evidence can be a re-traumatizing experience for victims of sex crimes,” Frazier said. “Survivors expect kits to be tested quickly. Yet tens of thousands of rape kits remain untested in California. Requiring the prompt testing of the existing backlog of rape kit evidence will help law enforcement identify and convict serial offenders. Ensuring that future rape kits be tested promptly will help survivors receive justice.”

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay), co-chair of the Legislature’s Delta Caucus, spoke out in frustration when his bill to increase local representation on the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC) died in a committee hearing after Southern California water special interests lobbied against it.

The DSC consists of seven voting members; only one of these represents the Delta. Frazier’s AB 1194 would have added four voting members from the Delta region to the Council.

“Time and again, the voices of my Delta neighbors have been silenced or dismissed,” said Frazier, presenting AB 1194 to the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee. “The interests of Southern California water agencies have been totally prioritized, while the goal of protecting the Delta’s ecosystem has been ignored and diminished, even violated.”